The Wave Obama has Created

Yesterday's inauguration of Barack Obama was certainly something I will not forget. His words were so powerful and his said them with such confidence and grace it is hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm of the moment. He will be a good leader, positive role model and a teacher for all those watching him. With him he brings an "era of responsibility" and for me, a great deal of hope for the future.

The Toboggan Run

When I was young, my dad used to make a toboggan run. We lived on a treed hill in the country just north of Toronto. My dad's first vision of the run began from the front of the house where the hill was cleared. Each year he would have us toboggan down the front hill in front of the house and he would add a jump or a little curb. That was when we were young.

As we got older, the toboggan run got bigger, faster, and more technical. My dad would begin working on it in summer. He would create new corners by plowing the dirt through the treed part of the hill with his tractor. He would reinforce the corners with pieces of plywood and two by fours and once the snow arrived, he would ice the run using a spraying technique that he rigged up himself. The toboggan run, which was once a nice children's hill, became a competitive field for anyone who dared take it on. My dad was more than happy to time anyone, guard people from flying over various corners and teach those who didn't know how to "lean into the corner". My dad became so well know for his toboggan run, that he was once asked if her would like to tryout for the Canadian bobsledding team!

This year, we visited my parents at their cottage for the Christmas holidays. Before we had even arrived, my dad had made a mini toboggan run behind their house. He had iced the sides so that my six, three and two year olds would be safe within the confines of the run. The kids were more than happy to spend hours outside in the snow. My dad was more than happy to watch, comfort and cheer on his grandchildren. What a gift he has given us!

The Fun of Cold Winters.

There is a certain attitude that people have out west about the warmer climate. I have to say, it is convenient to not have to pack the kids up in snowsuits every time we leave the house, however there is a certain nostalgia that comes with the cold winters that we have here in Ottawa. Sometimes it is challenging to embrace the cold, but with it comes so many different opportunities for fun.

Today we skated along the Rideau Canal for the first time. It was a beautiful, clear, cold, sunny day and we skated the full two kilometers from end to end with the kids. My only regret was that we forgot our camera. What a wonderful way to make the most of the freezing temperatures. I hope our boys will have fond memories of their cold winters in Ottawa. We just have to keep making the most of it.